Dear Bishops, Priests, Rector, esteemed students of the Seminary,
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
Despite the difficult circumstances that afflict our Holy Land, both in the north and the south, we have the right to experience a moment of hope this evening. This hope stems from two reasons: the feast of Saint Joseph and the conferral of the ministry of lector upon three of our seminarists preparing for priesthood.
Let us start with the ministry of lector. Who is a lector, and what is his role? A lector is someone who firmly believes that God is present in His Word and communicates with us through it, just as a friend speaks to his companions. Therefore, dear candidates, you are called to dedicate yourselves daily, your whole life, to reading and meditating on the Word of God. The Word serves as our source of spiritual nourishment, joy, peace, and healing. Saint Basil the Great affirms that the Word of God is a spiritual pharmacy that heals a person from his spiritual, psychological, and moral ailments. Furthermore, there is a definitive connection between the health of the soul and the body. A person who leads a well-ordered life, grounded in joy, peace, and inner freedom, will also enjoy good mental and physical well-being. By reading the Holy Scriptures, we begin to bear the fruits of the Holy Spirit, which guide us to live life in the best possible way.
Saint Francis of Assisi highlighted that the Holy Scriptures act as both a school and a divine clinic, affirming that as we receive and embrace God's life-giving Word, the healthier we become spiritually. The lector, holds deep faith in the power of the Word, is committed to sharing it with others through the duties entrusted to him. Some of them include:
- Reading and studying the Holy Scriptures with eagerness.
- Proclaiming the Scriptures and prayers of the faithful during the Mass.
- Preparing lay readers in the church to proclaim the Word of God clearly and reverently.
- Engaging with church pastoral groups (e.g. youth, scouts, altar servers, confraternities, etc.).
- Preparing candidates for First Communion, Confirmation, and the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
- Leading prayer groups and Gospel vigils in homes.
Dear brothers and sisters, you can find in Saint Joseph an example of how to engage with the Word of God. The Gospels do not record any words spoken by Joseph, nor did he preach. Instead, they describe him as a righteous and just man who faithfully carried out what the Law required and obeyed God’s commands. It is remarkable that God spoke to him through dreams, and Joseph considered the Word of God to be a noble goal and a source of salvation.
Let us reflect on the first dream: the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and helped him resolve a serious dilemma: "Do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife into your home, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit" (Matthew 1:20).
Joseph’s response was immediate and admirable. The Gospel tells us: " When Joseph awoke, he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took his wife into his home." (Matthew 1:24).
Let us focus on the phrase: he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him. Joseph was a man of action. When God speaks, there is no room for discussion. The only response is immediate action.
Throughout his life, Joseph knew how to say, "Let Your will be done." From Joseph’s obedience as head of the Holy Family, Jesus learned not only the art of carpentry but also how to be obedient to His parents (cf. Luke 2:51).
Dear brothers and sisters, obedience to God does not diminish our worth, lessen our dignity, or weaken our personality. On the contrary, God asks of us only what is for our good, our growth, and our benefit. That is why obedience is the path to joy and the road to perfection, and perfection is another name for holiness.
Joseph was not a man of passive submission; he was courageous, strong, and held strong moral values.
We must exercise the same moral courage that the carpenter of Nazareth had, the courage that always enabled him to turn problems into opportunities, facing them with complete trust in Divine Providence.
From Joseph, we also learn the value of a life lived in humility. Our lives are woven and sustained by ordinary people—often forgotten—who do not appear in newspapers or magazines or on the grand stages, yet undoubtedly, they play a decisive role in history. How many people exercise patience and spread hope every day? How many fathers and mothers, grandparents, and teachers show our children, through simple and daily acts, how to face and overcome difficulties? How many people pray, offer help, and intercede for the good of all?"
"Each of us can discover in Joseph – the man who goes unnoticed, a daily, discreet and hidden presence – an intercessor, a support and a guide in times of trouble. Saint Joseph reminds us that those who appear hidden or in the shadows can play an incomparable role in the history of salvation." (Pope Francis, With a Father’s Heart, on the 150th anniversary of the proclamation of Saint Joseph as Patron of the Universal Church).
Joseph is the patron of fathers who face challenges in providing for their families. He experienced both labor and unemployment in Egypt. He knew poverty and total dependence on God’s grace. He is the patron of mothers who manage household affairs and needs. He is the patron of all those who go through any kind of crisis. He is always ready to intercede on our behalf, for he has experienced what we experience.
Dear candidates for the ministry of lector, on behalf of His Beatitude, the Patriarch, and in the name of all those present, I extend my heartfelt congratulations to you and to the rector and priests of the seminary, to your teachers and mentors who provided you with spiritual guidance and formation, and especially to your families who accompany you with their prayers and example. I congratulate you on your courage in answering the Lord’s call. Continue on your path with perseverance until the end, so that you may reach priesthood. What awaits you is both a great honor and holds tremendous responsibility. With God’s grace and through the intercession of our Blessed Mother the Virgin Mary and Saint Joseph, the righteous man, you will be worthy of this new mission. Amen.
